I wanted to deny it. I could feel reason screaming, telling me this was crazy, dangerous, the very thing I'd been trying to protect myself from for five years. But my body was betraying me.
My heart was racing. My skin craved more touch. My lungs were sending signals to my brain that this man's presence made me feel alive. But his violent behavior these past few days made it impossible to just forgive him—he'd stalked me, sent those sick emails and photos, dragged me into his car and violated me, ignoring my fear and panic.
"Maybe," I heard myself admit. "But there's no possibility left between us."
He laughed. It was a low, joyful sound.
"No possibility?" He lifted my chin with his finger, forcing my eyes to meet his. "Soon you'll find out whether there's a possibility or not."
"Igor—"
"Starting tonight, I'm staying here."
"What?" My body went rigid. I stared at him in shock. "What gives you the right? This is my home!"
"You and the child need protection." His tone was like it had already been decided, like I had no choice. "The security here is pathetic. You can sleep in the bedroom. I'll take the couch."
"No. Absolutely not." I tried to step back, but his hand was still locked around my waist. "I'm perfectly safe here. There's no danger. The only possible source of danger is you!"
"Good thing you know I'm a dangerous man. So you definitely can't refuse." He paused, letting the weight of those words settle on me. "Don't think about running, Elena. You can't escape me."
After speaking, he released me and walked toward the living room. I watched him sit on the couch, leather creakingsoftly.
I stood there for a long while. I wanted to storm into the living room and throw him out, but in the end I just locked the door. Turned off the lights, got into bed. Because too much had happened today—I had no energy left.
I lay in the bedroom darkness, staring at the ceiling, trying to process everything that had just happened. I could hear movement from the couch. He was there, just on the other side of this wall. I knew he wasn't sleeping either.
My brain told me how wrong this all was. A man who five years ago had made me the other woman, who had betrayed me, had tonight forcibly assaulted me in front of my childhood friend, and now he was casually lying on my living room couch, ensuring I couldn't escape his control. Even crazier—he was actually Stella's biological father...
This was insane. My mind stayed active until I heard the movement from the couch stop. I heard his breathing—deep and rhythmic. I wasn't sure if he was asleep. But I was exhausted. In that moment, I allowed myself to close my eyes and sink into sleep.
Before I knew it, morning light was filtering through the curtain gaps.
When I walked out of the bedroom, I saw he was already awake. Those deep green eyes locked onto me the instant I appeared. Even after five years apart, I could still feel that magnetic pull.
"Good morning." He sat up on the couch. His hair was tousled, his upper body bare, the double-headed eagle tattoo on his chest bold and commanding.
I could feel my face heating up.
"Morning." I nodded at him flatly, pretending everything was still under control.
Stella's door opened at that moment. She appeared in the living room, rubbing her eyes. When she saw Igor in the living room, she shyly hid behind me, only poking out her little head to observe him.
Igor crouched down. The gesture made him seem gentler.
"Good morning, Stella," he said. "My name's Igor."
Stella looked at him with that honest directness only children have.
"This is the first time I've seen your face clearly," she announced.
"Yes," he agreed. "But I'm not scary, am I?"
My heart tightened, unexpectedly curious about Stella's answer.
Stella stepped right out from behind me, giving me her response. She pointed at the tattoo on his chest with her little finger.
"Igor, is that a bird?"
